red tiger zenkeri lotus

[florapace]

NYMPHAEA RUBRA Red Tiger Zenkeri Lotus - that's the name on Amazon where I got it. What a cool name, right? It came as a seed with one shoot, and I'm thrilled to share a success story after all my previous questions and failures.

I'm really impressed with the Amazon seller - I didn't expect it to succeed, given my experience with aquatic plants and my trust issues with Amazon sellers for this type of thing. But it's taken off beautifully, and I love how it looks.

I'm sure it could be even redder and healthier, but I'm shocked that this random plant has grown so well in my tank. With eight other plant types failing, melting away, and only one yellowing plant surviving and spreading but declining in appearance after I started gravel vacuuming, I think I might have taken away its nutrients.

This Red Tiger Lotus must be incredibly hardy. I'd love to know what makes it tick - what's the key difference between its needs and those of other plants that it's thriving in my tank despite all the kinks? If anyone else grows this plant, please share your insights. It might help me figure out what's missing and what's working for this plant.

Also, if there are other easy-to-grow and beautiful plants out there, I'd appreciate some recommendations to research. Thanks, everyone!

[willie32]

Looks amazing. I'm actually the opposite, lotus always stump me - had a great run about 15 years back, but since then, zero luck.

The key with these, from my understanding, is the leaves will hit the surface, and to promote lower growth, trim the top ones. I'm actually a fan of how it looks on the surface, though.

[marmal]

Looks Good!
Red Tiger Lotus is actually my second favorite plant, I have to say. Here's a pic of mine thriving in my 55g tank. Just a heads up, these plants develop pretty long roots and can take over if you're not careful. I started with just two bulbs and now I've sold over a dozen - they're definitely a popular choice. They do send off those surface shoots, but I just trim the stem close to the bulb to encourage a bushier growth habit. I use root tabs and have medium hard water - seems to work well for them.

[boomer]

The key to vibrant red-leaf plants lies in lighting. The reason plants display their characteristic hues is due to the way they reflect light. Most plants appear green because they reflect green light, which isn't essential for photosynthesis. On the other hand, red and blue wavelengths are crucial for photosynthesis, and when a plant reflects red light, it requires more of it to thrive. This is why many people struggle to grow lush red plants, despite having an abundance of green ones.

It's also essential to note that while increased red light is necessary, it doesn't mean you should overdo it on the nutrients. A balanced nutrient base is crucial for plant growth. I've found that a proportional mix of nutrients works wonders.

One more thing to consider is water flow. The 'Red' varieties of plants, like the one florapace is growing, typically thrive in still water. In my experience with a 90g tank, minimal water flow allowed the red variety to flourish, covering the surface with an impressive array of red floating leaves.

[starlord]

They're finicky, that's for sure. One minute they're thriving, the next they're on a downward spiral. I've seen it go from a beautiful red to a lifeless brown, and I've got no idea why. I didn't change a thing in my no CO2 aquarium, so it's anyone's guess what went wrong.

[starlord]

btw, I came across a Tropica video on youtube and they mentioned that "Sometimes Tiger Lotus do that" - I guess I'm not the only one who's experienced it. I've seen plenty of people have success with them, covering their aquariums with huge red leaves. I'm wondering if I should've increased the iron levels as it grew - just a hunch, but it might've made a difference.

[boomer]

I've previously mentioned requirements for this plant. If you could provide info on the light and fertilizer, that'd help. The photos suggest a lack of red light, which isn't ideal, and I suspect nutrient deficiencies, as seen in the stem plants too.

[boomer]

NYMPHAEA RUBRA Red Tiger Zenkeri Lotus - that's the name on Amazon where I got it. What a cool name, right? It came as a seed with one shoot, and I'm thrilled to share a success story after all my previous questions and failures.

I'm really impressed with the Amazon seller - I didn't expect it to succeed, given my experience with aquatic plants and my trust issues with Amazon sellers for this type of thing. But it's taken off beautifully, and I love how it looks.

I'm sure it could be even redder and healthier, but I'm shocked that this random plant has grown so well in my tank. With eight other plant types failing, melting away, and only one yellowing plant surviving and spreading but declining in appearance after I started gravel vacuuming, I think I might have taken away its nutrients.

This Red Tiger Lotus must be incredibly hardy. I'd love to know what makes it tick - what's the key difference between its needs and those of other plants that it's thriving in my tank despite all the kinks? If anyone else grows this plant, please share your insights. It might help me figure out what's missing and what's working for this plant.

Also, if there are other easy-to-grow and beautiful plants out there, I'd appreciate some recommendations to research. Thanks, everyone!

On the nutrients, I'd wager you're not using any fertilizers. That's problem number one, if you ask me. What you need is a comprehensive supplement - don't go down the rabbit hole of adding individual nutrients, that's a recipe for disaster unless you've got a Ph.D. in botany. I've used comprehensive supplements for over three decades and haven't had a single complaint. I grew this very plant like a weed in my 90g tank for years. Since you're in the UK, I'd recommend looking into TNT Lite. Just one dose after your weekly water change is all you need. For the lotus, though, I'd also suggest adding a substrate tab - TNT might make one, but if not, Seachem's Flourish Tabs are top-notch. Pop one next to the plant and replace it every three months (TNT's might have a different timeframe), and you'll see a world of difference.

As for the light, I think spectrum might be the issue here, but I'm only going by the photos. Can you dig up the Kelvin number (it'll be four digits with a "K" suffix) or the CRI number?

[florapace]

The key to vibrant red-leaf plants lies in lighting. The reason plants display their characteristic hues is due to the way they reflect light. Most plants appear green because they reflect green light, which isn't essential for photosynthesis. On the other hand, red and blue wavelengths are crucial for photosynthesis, and when a plant reflects red light, it requires more of it to thrive. This is why many people struggle to grow lush red plants, despite having an abundance of green ones.

It's also essential to note that while increased red light is necessary, it doesn't mean you should overdo it on the nutrients. A balanced nutrient base is crucial for plant growth. I've found that a proportional mix of nutrients works wonders.

One more thing to consider is water flow. The 'Red' varieties of plants, like the one florapace is growing, typically thrive in still water. In my experience with a 90g tank, minimal water flow allowed the red variety to flourish, covering the surface with an impressive array of red floating leaves.

I've started using TNT Lite again, dosed it earlier today. I've had issues with it in the past - I'm pretty sure it caused a green algae explosion in my tank, and maybe even the black algae too. If that happens again, I'll stop using it. The weird thing is, the lotus was doing great without any fertilizers, so I'm not sure why it's struggling now. I'll keep an eye on how the TNT Lite affects the tank and if it's worth it, I might consider getting the substrate tab. As for the light, I'm not sure how to find the info you're looking for - I didn't buy the tank new, so I don't have any of the specs.

[florapace]

The key to vibrant red-leaf plants lies in lighting. The reason plants display their characteristic hues is due to the way they reflect light. Most plants appear green because they reflect green light, which isn't essential for photosynthesis. On the other hand, red and blue wavelengths are crucial for photosynthesis, and when a plant reflects red light, it requires more of it to thrive. This is why many people struggle to grow lush red plants, despite having an abundance of green ones.

It's also essential to note that while increased red light is necessary, it doesn't mean you should overdo it on the nutrients. A balanced nutrient base is crucial for plant growth. I've found that a proportional mix of nutrients works wonders.

One more thing to consider is water flow. The 'Red' varieties of plants, like the one florapace is growing, typically thrive in still water. In my experience with a 90g tank, minimal water flow allowed the red variety to flourish, covering the surface with an impressive array of red floating leaves.

I'm planning to get a daylight cycle simulator light, but they're a bit pricey at the moment. I'll get the info when I'm back home in a few days and respond then. Also, I'll pick up those tabs, thanks for the tip.